m103

The m103 starts with the tried and true m101 microphone preamplifier circuity. For many engineers, the m101 is an introduction to what quality mic preamplification is all about, and the perfect starting point for a channel strip - musical, transparent and pure. Headroom, detail, clarity - its all there. Complete with our exclusive ribbon mic mode, a 75Hz HPF and 48V phantom.

The 3 band EQ section is built around single stage parallel tuning architecture, which minimizes circuitry and delivers natural tonal shaping from 20Hz to 20kHz. Controls include a fully parametric mid, with sweepable high and low bands which can be operated in shelving or peak modes. Because of its accuracy of this design, smaller increments of cut or boost can be heard, providing a greater level of control over tone shaping.

The compressor circuit is based on an optical attenuator - the purest, high fidelity gain control mechanism available. It provides gentle limiting to fairly heavy compression, while remaining neutral and transparent. The perfect way to zip it all up and send it downstream - clean, intact and alive.

10 segment gain reduction and output meters make monitoring compression and output levels simple. The front panel accessed HI-Z input makes this an amazingly high quality instrument preamp. Comprehensive I/O options allow the mic pre and EQ/COMP sections to be accessed independently of each other, and the order of the EQ/COMP is switchable.

A dual function link/ sidechain input on rearpanel is provided for inserting external sidechain signals (for de-essing, ducking) or connecting two m103's together for stereo compression applications. Predictably, the m103 is built to last, and proudly backed by our 5 year transferable warranty. So there it is, we've done it.

• Fast and musical transimpedance microphone preamplifier architecture

• Updated audio path with 0.5% precision metal film resistors

• New 12 position gold plated rotary gain switch

• High performance output line driver amplifier and HPF amplifier

• Ribbon mic mode (also great for dynamic mics)- Relay bypass of phantom power decoupling capacitors, increased input impedance, and 48V lockout

• 3-band presicion EQ, fully parametric mid band, peak and shelf mode for hi and low bands

• newly designed optical compressor

• Mic amp direct output

• EQ/COMP section line input

• Bombproof laser-etched black anodized frontpanel

• Sealed gold contact relay for Hi-Z input switching

• Built in power supply

• Led indicators for +48V, Ribbon mode, and HPF

• powerful 10 segment meters for gain reduction and output level

GAIN RANGE (5dB steps)

Mic input : 10-65dB

Hi-Z input : -10-45dB

THD+N 1kHz, 22Hz-22kHz BW

@ 20dB Gain +20dBu out : <0.00085%

@ 40dB Gain +20dBu out : <0.0010%

@ 60dB Gain +20dBu out : <0.0050%

INTERMODULATION DISTORTION

@ 40dB Gain +20dBu out :

SMPTE/DIN 4:1 7kHz/50Hz : <0.0020

NOISE - REFERRED TO INPUT @60dB Gain 22Hz-22kHz BW

50 source : <-130dB

150 source : <-128dB

600 source : <-124dB

CMRR @60dB Gain, 3.5Vcm

100Hz : >60dB

1kHz : >75dB

10kHz : >65dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

Mic input @ 40dBm Gain -3dB : 3.7Hz-140kHz

Hi-Z input @ 20dB Gain -3dB : 1.2Hz-112kHz

IMPEDANCE

Mic input : 8.1k

Mic input, Ribbon mode : 20k

Hi-Z input (unbalanced) : 2.5M

Hi-Z input (balanced) : 5M

Balanced Output : 300

Unbalanced Output : 150

PEAK LED METER

Green threshold : -10dBu

Red threshold : +16dBu

MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL

100k Ohm load, 0.1% THD : +28dBu

EQ/COMP Section

GAIN RANGE

Output Trim : -10 - +10dB

EQ: 3 Bands of 0-12dB Cut or Boost

Low Frequency Range : 20Hz - 750Hz

Mid Frequency Range : 500Hz - 4kHz

Mid Frequency Q : 0.5 - 5

High Frequency Range : 3kHz - 20kHz

Low and High Frequency Peak/Shelf switches :

Compressor - Inserts Pre or Post EQ

Threshold Range : -15 - +15 dBu

Attack Range : 3 - 200 ms

Release Range : 0.03 - 3 s

Ratio Range : 1:1 - 12:1

Gain Reduction : 0 - 10dB

THD+N 1kHz, 22Hz-22kHz BW

@ 0dB Gain +20dBu out : <0.002%

INTERMODULATION DISTORTION

@ 0dB Gain +20dBu out

SMPTE/DIN 4:1 7kHz/50Hz : <0.002%

OUTPUT NOISE 22Hz-22kHz BW

@0dB Gain : <-78dB

CMRR @0dB Gain, 3.5Vcm

100Hz : >75dB

1kHz : >75dB

10kHz : >75dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

@0dB Gain -3dB : 0.016Hz-150kHz

IMPEDANCE

Line In : 24k

Main Out balanced : 350

Main Out unbalanced : 150

Link In - sidechain mode : 100k

LEVEL METERS

EQ Peak threshold : 6 dB below interstage clipping

Output Level VU Meter : 0dB VU = +4dBu output

Gain Reduction Meter : 0-10dB Gain Reduction

MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL

100k Ohm load, 0.1% THD : +28dBu

WEIGHT and DIMENSIONS

4.5 lbs : H1.7" x W19" x D9.0"

2.05 kg : H4.3cm x W48.3cm x D22.9cm

POWER CONSUMPTION

85-264VAC / 120-370VDC : 14 Watts Max